Shock and bundle loader.



E. KIRK.

SHOCK AND BUNDLE LOADEII.

APPLICATION FILED IUL Y 1-6, I9I4- 1,150,206. Patenteaku 17, 1915.

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SHOCK AND BUNDLE LOADER.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1914. 1,150,206. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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E. KIRK.

SHOCK AND BUNDLE LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1914.

1 ,150,206. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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SHOCK AND BUNDLE LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 16. 1914.

1,15%206. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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E. KIRK.

SHOCK AND BUNDLE LOADER. APPLICATION HLED JULY 16, I914.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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H FMHI ERNEST KIRK, OF NIAGARA, NORTH DAKO'LA.

SHOCK AN D BUNDLE LOADER;

maaaoe.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Aug. 17, 19115.

Application filed July 16, 1914. Serial No. 851,358.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST KIRK, a c1t1- -zen of the United States, residing at Niagara, in the county of Grand Forks and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock and Bundle Loaders; and I do declare the A further ob ect of the invention resides in providing an improved forward or front carrier on the device for engaging and liftin the bundles and still another object resi es in providing such a carrier as may be capable of disposition to various positions at the will of the operator.

A still further object resides in providing an improved carrier which is provided with i an improved means for support on the main frame of the 'device and also with an improved means for the operation thereof to various positions as desired.

A still further object resides in providing a device which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which Wlll be very efficient and useful in operation.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of .the conveyer in its inoperative position:

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4'-4 of Fig. 1: Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the conveyer taken on line 55 of Fig. 11. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view .the

of the main conveyer, parts of the operating means therefor being disclosed in section: Fig. 7 is a vertical section as seen on line 7-7 of Fig. 6: looking in the direction of the arrows: Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the conveyer as seen on line 88 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows: Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section as seen on line 99 of Fig. 6: Fig. 10 is a similar view as seen on line 1010 of Fig. 7 Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section as seen on line 1111 of Fig. 1 and, Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the frame of the device, with parts broken away and parts in section, disclosing clearlycertain operating mechanisms of the device.

In describing the invention 1 shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 indicates a main supporting frame having the supporting wheels 2 and 3 mounted at the sides thereof and mounted in the forward portion of saidframe 1 is an endless conveyer 4 which is adapted to engage and lift bundles and the like from the surface of the ground and convey the same to a transversely extending and endless conveyer 5 which is mounted at the rear portion of frame. This transversely extending conveyer '5 has an upwardly inclined portion 6 whereby the contents thereof may be conveyed to a wagon or other receptacle (not shown.) My invention, however, involves particularly the structure of the front or forward carrier 4, including the means for supporting and operating the same and the following detailed description will be devoted particularly to this portion of thedevice.

The main frame 1 consists of certain longitudinal and transverse bars, as clearly disclosed in the drawings, and mounted between a pair of longitudinal bars of said frame 7 I o .addltlOlla-l crank the frame limits the movement of said posts in the opposite direction.

Pivotally carried between the posts 7 is an enlarged crank shaft 9, the-crank portion of which extends loosely through the side bars 1.0 of the conveyer 4. It might be here stated also that the ends of this crank shaft 9 which are pivotally mounted in the posts.

7 are capable of adjustment in the latter to adjust the position-of the carrier proper with respect thereto, as may be found desirable. tAs stated above, the crank shaft 9 has the ends thereof mounted adjacent the upper ends ofthe posts 7 and mounted between the lower ends of said posts 7 isan shaft 11. This latter crank shaft, has the crank portion thereof of greater depth than the crank portion of of each of the posts 7 is one end of a coil spring 12, the lower or opposite ends of said coil springs being engaged with the outer faces of the side bars 10 of said conveyer 4. The normal tendency of. these coil springs is to draw upwardly upon the conveyer frame to seat the latter upon the main frame 1 but when said conveyer frame is disposed in its operative position, that is, an upwardly inclined position with respect to the main frame, the weight of said conveyer will just overbalance the tension of said springs so that said conveyer frame may be properly positioned under tension of said springs. The tension of said springs, however, may be adjusted by the adjusting meansshown in connection with the operation of said springs and the posts 7.

Mounted'for oscillation on certain longitudinal bars of the frame 1 at one side of the latter is a crank shaft 13. One end of this crank shaft is provided with a crank arm 1&1 which has connection with one end of a link 15, the opposite end of said link being pivotally connected with one side bar of the conveyer 4 at a point adjacent the upper end of the latter. The crank portion of the shaft 13 operates between a pair of longitudinal bars of the frame 1 and has a foot pedal or the like 16 connected therewith whereby upon the actuation of said foot pedal said crank shaft will be actuated to raise or lower the conveyer frame as desired. Whenthe conveyer frame is raised, said frame is adapted to rest upon the main frame 1 and in the raising thereof .the frame will be aided considerably by the springs 12 above referred to. When lowered, the

weight of the conveyer and frame proper will retain the frame in its operative position. The movement of this frame in its loweredposition is limited by means of stop keepers 17 carried on the mainframe which receive in contact therewith portions o'fthe crank shaft 11 therein. Any desired means vention but my invention also resides in'the particular structure of the conveyer proper which will be described presently. The side bars 10 of the conveyer frame 4 are connected at different points by transverse bars 18 and mounted 'for rotation between the upper ends of the side bars 10 of said conveyer 4 and beyond the uppermost transverse bar 18 is a shaft 19. One end of this shaft extends considerably-beyond one side bar 10 thereby to have connection with an operating means to be hereinafter more particularly set forth and keyed or otherwise secured on said shaft between the side bars 10 of the conveyer frame are the three sprockets 20, which are spaced at equal distance from one another in the frame. Trained over these sprockets 20 are the endless chains 21 and said chains are also trained over additional and idle sprockets 22 which are hingedly mounted in brackets or bearings carried on the lowermost bar '18 of the conveyer frame. These three endless chains extending over the sprockets as above described form the foundation of my improved endless conveyer proper. Certain of the links of the chains 21 are provided with bearing boxes 23 and mounted for'oscillation therein are the ends of transversely extending crank shafts 24.

These crank shafts are arranged in stag gered relation to one another, it being of course understood that through the provision of a trio of endless chains and transverse bars connecting the same,an endless conveyer of two sections is thus formed. As

stated, these transversely extending crank shafts which are mounted for-oscillation in the bearing boxes are arranged in staggered relation to one another and the same are provided with arcuate teeth 25 to engage the bundles on the surface of the ground as the device is propelled and the conveyer operated.

In view of the fact that the engaging means on the conveyer consists of crank shafts mounted for oscillation in bearings thereon itwill be appreciated that in the operation of said carrier, under ordinary conditions, these crank shafts will be oscillated in their bearings as the same reach the uppermost portion of the. conveyer and thrown to opposite positions as the same assume a position on the lower reachof the conveyer thus returning in an opposite position, which is undesirable. I have provided a means therefore, to avoid this inconvenience and to this'end each crank shaft 24 is provided at its outer end with a removable crank arm 26 which carries at its free end a roller 27.

Mounted on the inner face of each side bar of the conveyer frame 4 is a strip 28 forming a track or the like which extends to points adjacent the ends of said conveyer frame. The upper extremities of the strips 28 are bent somewhat inwardly and downwardly as indicated at 28 and clearly disclosed in Fig. 7 of the drawings. This track or the like 28 with its upper bent extremity 28 receives thereon the rollers 27 carried on the ends of the crank arms and thus each crank arm which forms a means for carry ing a bundle, is properly supported in position in the operation of the conveyer. Also secured to each side bar of the frame t at the upper extremity of the conveyer is a guard shield or the like 29 which is aroua-te in design one portion of which is somewhat irregularly constructed, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. This guard shield 29 cooperates with the bent portion 28' to form a race-way 29 which receives therein the, rollers of the crank shaft as the latter tend to pass over the up per sprocket 20. As these crank shafts pass around the upper sprocket 20 and assume a position on the lower reach of the conveyer the rollers 27 will be guided by the lower portions of the guard shields 29, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 7, and thus said crank shaft will be prevented from swinging to an undesirable position. The same will retain a position to enable the bundles carried thereby to be readily dumped onto the transversely extending conveyer but saidcrank shaft will be overturned in the proper position as the same leaves the raceway and thus the same will be in a position to again engage the bundles when said crank shafts are moved toward the forward end of the device. No such raceways or the like are provided at the forward or lower portion of the conveyer frame 4 but shields of arouate design and indicated in the drawings as 30 are so provided to limit the outward swinging movement of said crank shafts as the same pass around the lowermost sprocket 22.

As 'above stated, the lowermost or idle sprockets 22 are carried on the lowermost frame 4. Through this medium the slack in the endless chains 21 may be taken up when desired. This adjustment may, of course, be through the medium of any approved and well known means.

This carrier is provided at its forward and lower end with a means for preventing injury to the operating parts thereof in the event of stones and other rigid obstructions being strewed in the path of the device. To this end, I provide yielding members in the spaces between the endless chains 21 over which members the transversely extending crank shafts 24 operate and when the prongs or teeth of said crank shafts engage stones and other similar obstructions, thereby tending to detain the device, a yielding action will occur which is particularly caused by the space of said shafts 24. These yielding members each consist of .a U-shaped bar 31, the arms of which are slidably dis posed through openings in certain of the lowermost of transverse bars 18 of the conveyer frame 4:. The base portion of the U- bar has a channel shaped or arcuate shield 32 connected therewith the base portion of which faces f rwardly and over which the crank shaft 2 operates. Encircling the -,arms of the U-bar between the base portion thereof and the lowermost transverse bar 18 are the coil springs 33, the normal tendency of which is to force the U-bar outwardly and downwardly. Thus it will be seen that when the operating portions of the conveyer meet obstructions in the path of the device,

portions of the conveyer may yield on thetension of the springs and ride over the obstruction, particularly in view of the oscil latory movement of the crank shaft on. the conveyer proper.

As stated previously, the bundles grain and the like, are engaged by the teeth on the crank shaft of the forward conveyer as the device is so called and carried upwardly on said conveyer to a point where the same are dumped onto a transversely extending ,conveyer 5, the latter being so disposed as to convey the same to a wagon or other receptacle (not shown). This latter conveyer 5 is of the usual construction, with one exception that being the formation of certain transverse slats thereon. These slats in. the drawing are indicated as 34:, the same being secured a short distance from their ends to endless chains similar to the chains referred ing wheel. In carrying out this idea, the axle of the wheel 2 is provided with an enlarged sprocket 37 over which extends an endless chain 38. This chain 38 extends rearwardly of the wheel- 2 and is trained over the sprocket 39 which is mounted on a shaft 40 the latter being supported on the main frame 1 rearward of the wheel 3. Also mounted on this shaft 40 is a bevel gear 41 and mounted for rotation in bearings 42 in the main frame 1 is a longitudinally extending shaft 43. Mounted on the rear end of the shaft 43 is a bevel pinion 44 meshing with the bevel gear 41 and a similar pinion 45 mounted on the forward end of said shaft 43 to mesh with a bevel gear 46 which is carried on a rotatable shaft 47 the latter being rotatable in bearings on the frame 1 just below the forward carrier 4. Pivotally carried on the shaft 47 is a pair of links 48 the outer ends of which have rotatably mounted therein a shaft 49 on which is carried a sprocket50. This sprocket 50 has a chain 51 extending thereover which also extends over an additional sprocket 52 carried on the shaft 47.

-livotally.carried on the shaft 49 are the lower ends of an additional pair of links 53 the upper ends of which are loosely carried on the extending portion of the upper rotatable shaft 19 carried on the front carrier frame 4. Also carried on this projecting portion of the shaft 49 is a sprocket 54 over which extends a chain 55 the latter being trained over an additional sprocket 56 carried on the shaft 49. Through the medium of this construction it is perfectly obvious that as the device is propelled so as to rotate the driving and supporting wheels 3, the front carrier may be operated and in any position of said front carrier, the operating mechanism will be effective.

Mounted on the rear end of the shaft 43 is a sprocket 57 over which is trained a chain 58 the latter being connected with a sprocket 59 on one of the shafts forming an operating end of the carrier 5. In this matter it will be seen that the rear or transverse carrier 5 may be also operated by the same driving mechanism as operates the front carrier. A clutch mechanism 60 is, however, provided in connection with the sprocket 57 whereby the front carrier may be operated without operating the rear carrier and an additional clutch mechanism 61 is arranged in connection with the shaft 43 and the pinion 45 whereby the operation of the front carrier may be discontinued while the rear carrier is in operation.

Connected with the forward end of the frame 1 at one side of the conveyer 4 is a front supporting trunk 62 which has. a

' tongue 63 and draft attaching devices 64 connected therewith. Through the medium of this mechanism, draft animals may be ataid in disposing the sorted to within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the s irit or sacrificing any of the principles 0 the invention.

Having thus what I claim is: 4

1. In a shock or bundle loader of the class described, a frame supported on wheels, a pair of-crank shafts mounted for oscillation on said frame, a conveyer supported on said crank shafts to move therewith, means for raising and lowering said conveyer to its inoperative and operative positions respectively, and spring means in connection with the frame and conveyer to conveyer to its inopdescribed my invention,

erative position.

2. In a shock or bundle loader of the class described, a frame supported on wheels; 2.

pair of crank'shafts mounted for oscillation on said frame, a conveyer frame supported on said crank shafts to move therewith, means for raising and lowering said conveyer frame to its inoperative and operative positions respectively, and coil springs engaged at one of their ends with the main frame and at their opposite ends with the conveyer frame to aid in raising said conveyer frame to its inoperative position.

3. In a machine of the class described, a frame supported on wheels, a pair of crank shafts mounted for oscillation thereon, the depressions of said crank shafts being of unequal depth, a conveyer operatively mounted on said crank shafts to move therewith, the weight of the conveyer tending to normally lower the same to its inoperative position, means to limit the downward movement of the conveyer with respect to the frame, -means in connection with one of said crank shafts for raising said conveyer to its inoperative position, said conveyer in the last mentioned position being adapted to rest on its frame, and spring means in connection with the frame and conveyer to aid in raising the latter to its inoperative position.

4. In a device of. the class described the combination with a movable member; of a.

conveyer mounted thereon including. a

frame, upper and lower sprockets supported therein, endless chains trained over the alining sprockets, transversely extending shafts mounted on said chains, engaging members carried on the shafts and yielding means provided at the lower portion ofsaid frame and adapted to be engaged by the shafts when the engaging members on the latter meet obstructions in the path of travel.

5. In a device of the class described the combination with a movable member, of a conveyer supported therein including a frame, upper and lower sprockets operatively mounted therein, endless chains trained over the alining upper and lower sprockets, a plurality of transversely extending shafts mounted on said chains engaging members carried on said crank shafts, and spring forced shields supported in the lower portion of said frame and adapted to be engaged by said shafts when the engaging members thereon meet obstructions in the path of travel;

6. A machine of the class described comprising a truck, a pair of spaced posts fulcrumed between their ends thereon, a pair of cranks carried by each post and located onopposite sides of the fulcrum thereof, a receiving conveyer interposed between the two pairs of cranks and pivoted thereto, and means for raising and lowering said conveyer to its inoperative and operative positions respectively.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a truck, a movable member mounted thereon, a pair of cranks carried by said movable member, a receiving conveyer supported by said cranks, means to raise and lower said conveyerirespectively to its inoperative and operative positions, and spring means in conjunction with the movable member for assisting inJreturning the conveyer to its inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST KIRK.

Witnesses:

J. L. McNErLL, D.v J. MGLEOD. 

